Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

One of the things I have been doing since the event I was involved in as an organizer ended on October 17, is what is known as "Post Show Analysis", or PSA.  The organizers get a chance to sit down and decompress from the event.  I for one have been trying to remember all of the things that I learned as a show organizer and how I will approach all of this knowledge next time.

The problem with some of the PSA that has taken place is that for the planning of the following year, changes in the event location and event dates and many other factors can change the analysis and how it is applied to the following year.  For instance if you had rave reviews of your event for the fact that some of it was carried on outdoors, you cannot then make that a permanent part of your show if you happen to change the date to hurricane season in Southern Florida.  That is one prime example, but even small things like the analysis of the performance of a registration vendor or of the facilities vendors can all change with the simple changing of the guard.

For the most part I like looking back on what went well and what didn’t, and providing the feedback to make the next trade show or convention event better.  The post show analysis and any meetings related to that make that all possible.  Organizers should make sure that they make the feedback sessions with the organizers are made an important part of the analysis to make your event better in years to come.

Tags: Event Organizer, Conventions, Trade Show Planning, Convention Feedback

This is more of a question than it is an informative post.  I wanted to touch base upon this as it is something that has perplexed me as a show or event organizer.  If you have a large event, you want people to come away with a good feeling and memories so that next year your event is the one to attend.  Part of that is hosting and throwing lavish parties that can be an expensive endeavor.  As we begin to plan out these parties, we also notice that there are other parties which are hosted and sponsored by others, and they are not perhaps sanctioned events.

These events tend to piggy back on top of your trade show or convention parties and they have not tie to your marketing and promotion other than they are at the same time and place. I wonder if this practice is good for the event or bad?  I think that the more parties people have to choose from the better, but the money that the event organizer spends on making the experience a good one is pretty high in the overall budget.

I suppose it comes down to who is paying for the party and what the purpose of the party is in the marketing and promotion of your event.  I know that many of the large events have whole websites for just the parties that are being held in conjunction with the event.  What remuneration is being derived by the event organizer?  I’m not sure the answer to this question but I know as an organizer it is a tough call as to how the parties will coincide with my own planning.  How do you integrate off site parties or parties not a part to your event?  Is this a common practice in trade shows and conventions? 

Tags: Trade Shows, Conventions, Parties, Sponsors, Convention Costs, Convention Planning

I want to let everyone know why I have been absent for a while from the blog.  I have been in complete trade show and convention mode for the last 6 weeks and it has been quite an experience.  I talk about a lot of things that are part of our industry, such as travel, meeting venues and trade shows that are occurring but never have I given real life experiences that I have had.  That all can change now as I went through that process last week in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  We had a three day conference with a two day full on exhibited trade show at that location and I was in the heart of the show and its inner workings.  I have much to discuss as it relates to the real inside of a trade show and convention.  There were some good, bad and ugly stories and I want to share all of those with you.

I had to deal with vendors, exhibitors, speakers, attendees, location managers, and staff and everyone else involved with the show. From the planning to the inner workings, to the post show analysis debriefing I was involved from start to finish.  The good news is I have been invited back to do it all again next year, and for some that might even be bad news.

I want to thank the folks at Conventions.net for giving me the latitude for some real inside research and participation.  I am hoping to pass on some of that knowledge I learned, some funny stories, and perhaps a nightmare or two.  Stay tuned here as I go through the process.  I am afraid I still have one event left and that will be at the Marriott Waikiki in beautiful Hawaii.  It’s not a bad gig but still it is working on a conference and convention.

Tags: trade shows, conventions, Las Vegas Convention Center, LCVA, BlogWorld Expo, BWE09, Hawaii, Rethink Hawaii